Black Ants

Name: Black Ant, Lasius niger. Lifespan: Complete metamorphosis.Egg: Eggs are white, tiny and kidney shaped with a smooth sticky surface allowing the eggs to be carried in bundles.Larvae: Legless grubs which are fed by mature ants. Become adult in 3 weeks.Pupa: Pupation takes 2 weeks, pupa are usually mistaken for ‘ant eggs’.Adult: Workers – 3-5mm long, dark brown/black.Drone – Produced only leading up to the queens mating flight. They are 5-7mm long with delicate wings.Queen – Can grow to lengths of 9-12mm, can live for several years.Description Workers are the most commonly seen caste member. They are 3-5mm long and dark brown to black. They are extremely active and agile insects, able to transverse vertical surfaces in the search for food. Food stuffs range from foraged seeds, to honeydew from aphid secretions. The colony is monogynous (having a single queen) and on average can reach sizes of 4000-7000 individuals. Habitat Widely distributed through Britain. Frequently close to, and in association with human dwellings. They create their nests outside underground in almost any location which will allow them to burrow, but they show a preference for sandy soils, making paved patios a prime target.Signs of Infestation The clearest sign of infestation is witnessing worker ants in or around the property. Closer inspection and backtracking the ant trail will reveal the points of ingress into the property, and the entrances to the nest which are usually small holes in the ground no bigger than 5-6mm.References1. The British pest management manual. Section 5, pg 176.Recommended Products: Cytrol Forte, Stingray, Vulcan P5 DP.

Click on a recommended solution for this pest below :

One of the ‘flag-ship’ products of the PelGar range, Cytrol Forte is a high strength wettable powder, containing the powerful synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin. This has excellent insecticidal qualities and good ‘flushing’ and ‘knock-down’ effect.

Formulated as a dust for use in voids or around electrical installations where liquid sprays may not be appropriate. For the general control of crawling or resting insects, it can be applied by hand or powered dusters, and offers excellent wasp control.

About Us

PelGar International was incorporated in 1995 to develop and supply innovative and novel rodenticide and insecticide products to the global public health pesticide market. PelGar believes that, while the active ingredients used in the industry are common, the target pests and the environment in which they live are very different. Providing cost effective control therefore means that the active substance needs to be available in a wide range of formulations and this is where PelGar’s expertise lies.